October 05 / 20.00 Wolverhampton (AW)

20.00

Standard

Franklin Hodge Handicap

  • Prize money: £3716.14
  • 1m 5f 219y
  • Class 5
  • 7 runners
SKY
View Course
Franklin Hodge Handicap

Runners: 7 runners

Type: Flat AW

Surface: Tapeta

Weather: Rain

1st
4 (7)
Roost

8/1 (Won)

  • Win: £6.50
  • Place: £2.70

Form: 666337

Last run: 10 days

W: 9st 10lb

4 yo Colt

OR: 72

Form & Verdict
Habitual slow-starter who again got going too late to land a blow when seventh of 13 at Kempton (1m3f) ten days ago; the visor he wore that day is retained; has just one win from 15 goes and needs something extra.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

4

(7)

5th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Roost

9st 10lb

J: Ray Dawson

T: Ralph Beckett

Habitual slow-starter who again got going too late to land a blow when seventh of 13 at Kempton (1m3f) ten days ago; the visor he wore that day is retained; has just one win from 15 goes and needs something extra.

8/1

7th

12

(10)

25th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 219y

Class 4

19:00 Kempton (AW)

Roost

9st 0lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

slowly into stride

11/2

3rd

4

(7)

6th Sep 2024

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 5

20:30 Kempton (AW)

Roost

9st 8lb

J: Rossa Ryan

T: Ralph Beckett

Has had just two AW races, including when second as 2yo; sole win (13 races) came over 1m4f at Ffos Las last August off 2lb higher, on the first of two starts with a tongue-tie which returns today; not so good since, with blinkers on last two outings, but the tongue-tie might help.

11/2

OUR TIP

5/4

  • Place: £1.30

Form: 1-1131 C

Last run: 31 days

W: 10st 0lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
Went hurdling last winter but he has really found his niche on the AW, winning his last three races; again well handled by Tommie Jakes when scoring narrowly at Kempton (1m4f) last month; likely to stay this longer distance and should give another good account of himself.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

1st

12

(2)

3rd May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 6f 0y

Class 2

14:55 Newmarket

Goblet Of Fire

8st 3lb

J: Saffie Osborne

T: Nicky Henderson

All of his Flat success for this yard has been on AW, albeit with good-ground hurdle wins too and he was runner-up at Goodwood (1m6f, good to firm) last August; has a run under his belt this term but to win this would require a new best performance on turf.

7/1

5th

9

(9)

6th Apr 2026

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 3

15:30 Kempton (AW)

Goblet Of Fire

9st 2lb

J: Rob Hornby

T: Nicky Henderson

Was a more convincing Wolverhampton winner (2m) in October than the narrow margin suggests, making it 4-5 on sand for this yard, including at 1m3f and 1m4f on this track; well held over hurdles in November but had wind operation since; by no means out of it.

13/2

1st

3

(3)

25th Oct 2025

Standard

2m 0f 120y

Class 4

19:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Goblet Of Fire

9st 11lb

J: Daniel Muscutt

T: Nicky Henderson

Mainly seen over hurdles these days but he finished second of ten at Goodwood (1m6f, good to firm) in October and had a good AW record last year (1112) including a win here (1m4f); attempts this far for the first time on the Flat and is off a career-high mark, but good chance if he stays.

6/4

6/1

Form: -70163 CD

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 4lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 73

Form & Verdict
Sole win came over this C&D in July and he again ran well when third of 11 at Haydock (1m6f, good to soft) four weeks ago; may not have reached his ceiling yet and he's an interesting contender in receipt of weight.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3rd

7

(3)

5th Oct 2024

Standard

1m 5f 219y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Easy Dancer

9st 4lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Sole win came over this C&D in July and he again ran well when third of 11 at Haydock (1m6f, good to soft) four weeks ago; may not have reached his ceiling yet and he's an interesting contender in receipt of weight.

6/1

3rd

9

(12)

6th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

15:45 Haydock

Easy Dancer

9st 5lb

J: Joe Leavy

T: Richard Hannon

Improved form upped in trip after a gelding operation when off the mark in a Wolverhampton handicap (1m6f, AW) in July, always prominent; last of six when 20-1 and front-running at Sandown (1m6f, good to firm) two weeks later, beaten only 7l but he now has something to prove on turf.

10/1

6th

4

(4)

31st Jul 2024

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 4

19:25 Sandown

Easy Dancer

9st 3lb

J: Liam Keniry

T: Richard Hannon

Improved form upped in trip after a gelding operation when beating the two market leaders in a Wolverhampton handicap (1m6f, AW) two weeks ago; up 6lb but that was a clearcut success last time and he should have more to offer at staying trips; big player.

11/4

11/2

Form: 122341

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 8lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 70

Form & Verdict
Like many from his stable, he's having a productive season and a narrow win at Brighton (1m4f) was his third of the campaign; a 5lb rise does not look harsh but has to prove himself as effective on AW (0-3) as turf.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

6th Sep 2025

Good To Firm

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:12 Stratford

Laser Focus

11st 0lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won on the Flat in May but was safely held on both hurdling starts this year (both in 2m handicaps in July) and reverts to this code after a very poor Flat run last month; stablemate Chillhi looks a safer option.

6/1

6

(2)

9th Aug 2025

Good

1m 6f 0y

Class 5

16:50 Newmarket (July)

Laser Focus

9st 7lb

J: Laura Pearson

T: James Owen

Had a good run of form in 1m2f-1m5f handicaps (1423) before tailed off in his last two hurdle races and he's a dual winner in that scene; some wellbeing concerns all of a sudden.

8/1

7th

1

24th Jul 2025

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

14:55 Worcester

Laser Focus

11st 8lb

J: Alex Chadwick

T: James Owen

Won twice over hurdles in the autumn (2m4f/2m7f) and has been in good form on the Flat in recent weeks but was well beaten when back over hurdles on Saturday (2m; raced too freely) and has a point to prove here.

16/1

5/1

Form: 515781 C

Last run: 21 days

W: 9st 13lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 75

Form & Verdict
Made it six wins from 14 attempts on the AW when rallying to score at Lingfield (1m4f) three weeks ago; yet to run over 1m6f but shapes as if he'll stay; should be thereabouts again off 3lb higher.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4th

2

(1)

12th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 3f 137y

Class 6

15:50 Bath

Raintown

9st 9lb

J: David Probert

T: J S Moore

Exposed multiple winner who could improve for having a recent run here under his belt, with that his first appearance in three months; handicapped to win again.

3/1

3rd

1

(3)

27th Apr 2026

Good To Firm

1m 2f 37y

Class 6

14:30 Bath

Raintown

9st 9lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: J S Moore

Has a better strike-rate on AW than on turf and returns to this sphere with a doubt over his current form; however, may prove resurgent off current mark dropped in class.

8/1

8th

6

(3)

29th Jan 2026

Standard

1m 2f 0y

Class 5

15:20 Lingfield (AW)

Raintown

9st 7lb

J: Taylor Fisher

T: J S Moore

Record of 6-17 at the track stacks up well (2-27 elsewhere) and he has dropped to a dangerous mark; hasn't looked to be in the form required to capitalise though.

14/1

Form: 130898 CD

Last run: 14 days

W: 10st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 77

Form & Verdict
Very hard to fancy on the form of his last four turf outings, soundly beaten each time; on the plus side, he has fallen to his last winning mark and is a C&D winner who could be revived by a return to the AW.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

3

(8)

11th Mar 2025

Standard

1m 6f 21y

Class 5

18:45 Southwell (AW)

Chase The Dollar

9st 13lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Lisa Williamson

prominent, outpaced and lost ground from over 4f out

25/1

8th

1

(9)

25th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Chase The Dollar

9st 13lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Lisa Williamson

Well handicapped on best form but is far from solid judged on his two efforts this winter for new stable; best watched unless the market speaks positively.

25/1

10th

2

(4)

8th Feb 2025

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 5

20:15 Wolverhampton (AW)

Chase The Dollar

10st 0lb

J: Lewis Edmunds

T: Lisa Williamson

Course winner who also made all at Chester (1m4f) off 5lb higher at the start of last summer, but he made an inauspicious start for Lisa Williamson when last of seven over 1m6f here in December.

33/1

Form: -36453

Last run: 29 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Colt

OR: 76

Form & Verdict
0-6 for Andrew Balding and well-beaten third of four at Kempton (1m4f) on debut for new yard; a fourth at Newmarket (1m2f) in May was his best show from four handicaps, staying on from the rear, so this longer trip could be worth a go; may still be unexposed; wears headgear for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

11th

11

12th May 2026

Good

2m 1f 166y

17:27 Sligo

Screaming Eagle

11st 4lb

J: Harry Sexton

T: A J Martin

Regressed on the Flat in Britain (rated 70 now); unfancied when twice well held over hurdles a year ago.

50/1

12

16th May 2025

Good

2m 3f 0y

18:00 Kilbeggan

Screaming Eagle

10st 12lb

J: Daniel King

T: A J Martin

A 73-rated Flat maiden; best form was for Andrew Balding when placed on AW; 42,000gns buy last autumn; 20-1, down the field at Cork on stable/hurdling debut.

14/1

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £18.80
Straight Forecast £12.82
Trifecta £49.20

Selections

Telegraph:

Goblet Of Fire

SPOTLIGHT:

Easy Dancer

RP RATINGS:

Screaming Eagle

POSTDATA:

Roost

The Sun:

Laser Focus

Daily Mail:

Easy Dancer

D Express:

Easy Dancer

The Times:

Screaming Eagle

The Guardian:

Screaming Eagle

Daily Mirror:

Goblet Of Fire

The Star:

Goblet Of Fire

Daily Record:

Goblet Of Fire